Moderate rainfall yesterday and overnight gives promise that area farmers might find relief to hard, dry soils. The Defiance Memorial Airport NOAA weather station reports 0.75" of rainfall during November 16 & 17, 2010. Farmers are reporting machinery repairs every 3-4 days or every 50-60 acres from excessive wear and tear on tillage tools.
An area farmer shared that "Replacement bolts, shanks, etc quickly add up to $1,200 each week. A small bag of high grade bolts seem to cost more this fall and they don't last long. The deep shanks bend and bow to follow the cracks in the soil rather than busting through."
Private consultants and farmers collecting soil cores are also feeling resistance. Power augers and hand probes are bending and worn and need maintenance and replacement more regularly.
Agronomists and farmers should anticipate that soil test results reported from very dry soil samples collected may have drought induced lower pH and potassium levels this fall. OSU and Purdue Ag Answers addressed this effect in an October 2010 article: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/aganswers/story.asp?storyID=6109
No comments:
Post a Comment